Air leaflet



T. B. WEISS Feb. 3, 1959 AIR LEAFLET Filed Nov. 16. 1953 Thomas B. Weiss INVENTOR.

Ammqs nited States Patent 2,871,596 AIR LEAFLET Thomas B. Weiss, Palo Alto, Calif. Application November 16, 1953, Serial No. 392,259 7 Claims. c1. 40-127 This invention relates in general to leaflets, and more particularly to leaflets intended to be dropped from a height and distributed over a large area.

At the present time, during the. present cold war, it has been highly desirable to distribute propaganda to certain peoples. However, due to the restrictions on trade and travel, it has been extremelydifficult to contact the peoples of many nations. It has been therefore necessary-to attempt to reach them either through the use of radio or through the dropping of air leaflets.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved air leaflet which may be dropped from a height and distributed over a large'area whereby many people will have an opportunity to examine such leaflet.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved air leaflet which is so constructed whereby it may carry a small gift to the people to whom the leaflet is intended, whereby the spirit of the people may be uplifted.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved air leaflet which is so designed whereby the same may carry a gift, such. gift forming a weight and cooperating with the folds of such air leaflet so as to cause the air leaflet to float down and thereby be distributed over a large area.

These together with other objects and disadvantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference-being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of air leaflet and shows the general outline of the same, the gift carried by the air leaflet beingshown in dotted lines because of its variable nature;

Figure 2 is anenlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicatedby the section line 22 of Figure 1 and shows the cross-section of the air leaflet of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 of a slightlymodified form of air leaflet;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectionalview taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 3 and shows the'general cross-section of the air leaflet of Figure3; and

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 arev vertical. sectional views taken through modified forms of air leaflets, the weight carried thereby being omitted and Figure 8 being a fragmentary view.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in Figure l a preferred form of air leaflet which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The air leaflet 10 is formed of a' sheet of paper material 12 which is generally rectangular in outline. 'The'sheet 12 includes an enlarged body a downwardly and forwardly extending flange 34.

sheet 30 is next folded to form an upwardly directed flange 36 which is integrally connected at its lower edge with the flange 34 and is spaced forwardly of the body portion 14 and which is formed integrally with the flange 16. The sheet 12 is further folded to form a downwardly and forwardly extending flange 20 which is integrally connected at its upper edge to the flange 18.

It will be noted that the folds of the sheet 12 are such that the flanges together with the body portion form a pair of air pockets 22 and 24. Thus, when the air leaflet 10 is dropped, and the lower edge of the body portion 14 falls first, the pockets 22 and 24 function as air pockets and slow the descent of the air leaflet 10. Further, the pockets 22 and 24 add stability to the air leaflet so that it will float in a general direction.

In order to assure the air leaflet 10.dropping in such a manner that the lower edge of the body portion 14 falls first, there is attached to the body portion 14 adjacent the lower edge thereof a weight 26. The weight 26 is at- I may carry gifts which we are able either to produce bet-.

ter than the peoples of that country,'or in the form of a product which is plentiful in our country but very scarce to the peoplefor whom the leaflets are intended.

Although the gifts may weigh more than the leaflets, the leaflet will fall gently through the air due to the provision of the air pockets 22 and 24. Further, since the leaflets fall gently. through the air in more or less a given path, the leaflets will be spread over an extremely'large area if the paper utilized for the sheet 12 is relatively rigid and strong and the gift is light in weight. One the other hand, if it is desired to concentrate the air leaflets, the gift may be relatively heavy and the paper light weight so that the. leaflets will wiggle and drift more or less downwardly over a confined area.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 in particular, it

will be. seen that there is illustrated a modified form of air leaflet which is referred to in general by the reference numeral .28. The air leaflet 28 is formed of a sheet 30 which is folded to include an enlarged body portion 32.- Further, the sheet-30 is folded so that thereis formed integrally with the upper edge of the-body portion 32 The portion 32. The upper portion of thesheet 30 is folded to form a downwardly andrearwardly extending flange 38 which, is connected integrally with the flange36 at its upper edge. The folding-of the sheet 30 is such so as to provide a direct action air pocket 40 on the front face of the sheet and a vacuum-type air'pocket 42 on therear face thereof. Also carried by the front face of the sheet 30 is a weight'26 which! is preferably in the form of a gift.

The air leaflet 28 is intended for the same purpose as the air leaflet 10, but due to its 'particular configuration, will be spread over a different area from that of the air leaflet 10 when the two are carrying the same weight.

Referring now to Figure 5 in particular, it willfbe single sheet 48-of paper material. The sheet 48 is so folded so as to provide an enlarged body portion 50 which terminates at its upper edge with a downwardly and forwardly directed "flange 52. The flange 52 terminates in an upwardly extending flange '54 which in turn terminates in an integral downwardly and forwardly extendingflange S6. The flange 56 has integrally connected thereto an upstanding flangefl. It will be noted that the flange 52 and the'body portion 50 combine to form an air pocket 60, whereas the flanges 54 and 56 combine to form an air pocket'62. It is intended that a weight (not shown) be connected to the face of the body portion 50 on the same side as are the various folds or flanges described above.

Referring'now to Figure 6" in particular, it will be seen'that there is illustrated-another modified form of air leaflet which isreferred toin general by the reference numeral. The air leaflet 64 includes a sheet 66. The sheet 66 is folded in such a-manner so as to provide a body portion 68 and'flanges 70, 72., 74 and 76. It will weight (not shown) carried by the front face of the sheet 66 may be increased without varying the falling characteristics of the air leaflet.

Referring now to Figure 7- in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a further modified form of air leaflet which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 82. The air leaflet 82 is formed of a sheet 84 of paper material. The sheet 84 is folded to provide a body portion 86 and flanges 88, 90, 92, 94 and 96. The relationship of the folds or flanges 88, 90, 92, 94 and 96 with respect to the body portion 86 is substantially that described above relative to the various folds and flanges and the body portion of the air leaflet 64. The air leaflet 82' distinguishes from the air leaflet 64 merely in the provision of an additional vertical flange 98 at the free upper edge of the sheet 84.

Referring now to Figure 8 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a still furthermodified form of air leaflet which is, referred to in general by the reference numeral 100. The air leaflet 100 is formed of a sheet of paper material 102 which is folded to form a body portion. 104 and a plurality-of folds or flanges 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 and 116. It will be understood that the relationship of the various foldsv and flanges with respect to the body portion 1040f the air leaflet 100 is very similar to that of the air leaflet 82. The air leaflet 100 also includes an additional downwardly and forwardly extending flange 118 whi-ch is formed at the upper free edge thereof. Thus, it will be seen that the air leaflet 100 is provided with four air pockets 120 so as to increase the carrying capacity'thereof.

While there have been illustrated and described many specific types of air leaflet, it will be understood that the various folds or flanges may be of'dilferent proportional' sizes than illustrated so as to vary the falling characteristics of the air leaflets.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation isbelieved to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What claimed as new-is as follows:

1. An air leaflet comprising a folded message sheet, said sheet having folds at one edge thereof for engaging air streams resulting from passage of said sheet through the air, a weight carried by an opposite edge of said sheet to retain said folds in an uppermost position to ensure floating of said sheet through the air, said folds being disposed at one side of said sheet and forming a direct air pocket and a vacuum'air pocket on opposite t; sides of said sheet.

2. An air leaflet comprising a folded message sheet, said sheet having folds atone edge thereof for engaging air streams resulting from passage of said sheet through the air, a weight carried by an opposite edge of said sheet to retain said folds in an uppermost position to ensure floating of said sheet through the air, said folds being disposed at one side of said sheet and forming a direct air pocket, at said one sideand a vacuum air pocket at the opposite side of said sheet.

3. An air leaflet comprising a. folded message sheet, said sheet having folds atone edge thereof for engaging air streams resulting from passage of said sheet through the air, a weight carried by an opposite edge of saidsheet to retain said folds in an uppermost position to ensure floating of said sheet through the air, said folds being disposed at one side of said sheet and forming a direct air pocket, at said one side and a vacuum air pocket at the opposite side of said-sheet, said weight being positioned on said one side.

4. An air leaflet comprising afolded message sheet. said sheet having folds at one edge thereof for engaging air streams resulting from passage of said sheet through the air, a weight carried by an' opposite edge of said sheet to retain said folds. in an uppermost position to insure floating of said sheetthrough the air, said folds forming a downwardly and outwardly directed. first flange at said one edge, an upwardly directed second flange disposed in offset parallel relation to said sheet proper, and a downwardly directed third flange, said first flange and. said sheet proper forming a first air pocket and said second and third'flanges forming a second air pocket.

5. An air leaflet comprising a foldedv message sheet, said sheet having folds at one edge thereof for engaging air streams resulting from passage. of said sheet through the air, a weight carried by an opposite edge of said sheet to retain said. folds in an uppermost position to ensure floating of said. sheet through the air, said folds forming a downwardly-and outwardly. directed first flange at said one edge, an upwardly directed second flange disposed in offset parallel relation to said sheet proper, and a downwardly directed third flange, said first flange and said sheet proper forming a first air pocket and said second and third flanges: forming a second air-pocket, said third flange beinginwardly directed and 'saidsecond air pocket being a vacuum pocket. 7

6. An air leaflet comprising a folded message sheet, said sheet having folds at one edgethereof for engaging air streams resulting from passage of saidsheet through the air, a weight carried by'an opposite edge of said sheet to retain said folds in. an. uppermost position to ensure floating of said sheet through the air, said folds forming a downwardly and outwardly directed: first flange at said one edge, an upwardly directed second flange disposed in offset parallel relation to said sheet proper, and a downwardly directed third flange, said first flange and said sheet proper forming a first air pocket and said second andthird flanges forming a second airpocket,v said third flange being inwardly directed and said second air pocket being a vacuum pocket, said weight and-said flanges being formed on the-samejside ofsaid sheet.

7. An air leaflet comprising a folded message sheet, said sheethaving folds at one edge thereof for engaging air streams resulting from passage'of said sheet through the air, a weight carried. by an opposite edge of said sheet to retain said folds in anuppermost position to ensure floating of said sheet through the air, said folds forming a downwardly and outwardly directed first flange at said one edge, an upwardly directed second flange disposed in offset parallel relation to said sheet proper, and a downwardly directed third flange, said first flange of said sheet proper forming a first air pocket and said second and third flanges forming a second air pocket, said third flange being outwardly directed and said second air pocket being a pressure pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,454 Pattison Oct. 15, 1901 6 Littlepage Nov. 3, 1903 Van Wagner Oct. 4, 1904 Heiss Apr. 14, 1925 Klapka Feb. 1, 1927 Bonnaire Nov. 7, 1939 Weiss July 3, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 27, 1924 

